How To Download "Mastering" KB Articles from the Internet (141446)


The information in this article applies to:

  • MSPRESS Microsoft Mastering Products 1.0
This article was previously published under Q141446
1.00 WINDOWS

SUMMARY

The Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) articles and Microsoft Software Library (MSL) files included with the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article are available for downloading from the Internet by using a File Transfer Program (FTP) service (ftp.microsoft.com). The MSL file tree (softlib) contains drivers, patches, and other support files from Microsoft Product Support Services. This article describes how to open a connection to the Microsoft FTP site and how to download individual KB articles that apply to the Mastering compact disc titles listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

How to Open a Connection to the Microsoft FTP Site

Connection to the Microsoft Internet server requires a live session to the Internet by way of an FTP (File Transfer Program) service provider.

  1. Log on to your Internet account.
  2. At the Internet prompt, type:
       open ftp.microsoft.com
    -or-

    Use the following IP address:

       open 207.46.133.140
  3. When prompted for a user name, type:

    anonymous

  4. When prompted for a password, type your full e-mail address, for example:

    johndoe@test.com

How to Download Individual KB Articles


This example shows how to download an actual article (Q86087), which explains how to obtain a print utility for Mastering Visual FoxPro. KB articles are stored in a directory tree by their unique identification number also known as their Q number.

  1. After logging onto the FTP server, use the CD command at the FTP prompt to change to the correct directory:
       cd /developr/gen_info/kb

  1. Use the GET command to retrieve the Index.txt file. It contains a complete list of all the article titles and their Q numbers. If you already know the Q number you want, you don't need to look in the Index.txt file. To download the Index.txt file, type the following from the FTP prompt:
       get index.txt
  2. Once you have the Q number (for example, 86087) of the KB article you want, use the GET command to download it.

    KB articles are stored in a directory tree structure with each Q number represented as two subdirectories and a two-digit file name. This method avoids storing thousands of articles in one subdirectory, which would slow server performance.

    You can translate the Q number into a GET command. There are three parts to each Q number. Reading backwards, the file name is the last two characters plus a .txt extension. For example, the file name for 86087 is 87.txt. The sub area is the first digit to the left of the file name (0 in this example), and the primary area is the remaining characters to the left including the Q (Q86 in this example).

    In the GET command, place a forward slash (/) between the file name, sub area, and primary area (primary/sub/filename). For example, a six-digit Q number translates to:

    86087 = Q86/0/87.txt


    A seven-digit Q number translates to:

    139007 = Q139/0/07.txt

    Use the GET command from the FTP prompt to download the article:

    get Q86/0/87.txt 86087.txt

    The "Q86087.txt" part at the end is the destination name for the file -- the name of the file as it will appear on your hard drive.
  3. To close the connection with the server for most FTP clients, type the following from the FTP prompt:
       bye
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:3/16/2005
Keywords:kbhowto kbmm KB141446
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